Through a competitive application process, the Education Writers Association's fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. EWA offers several opportunities throughout the year to apply; typically in the fall and spring, although additional rounds may also be offered. To learn more, check out the FAQ page for our most recent round of the program.
Through a competitive application process, the Education
Writers Association’s fellowships provide financial awards to
journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing
projects. EWA offers several opportunities throughout the
year to apply; typically in the fall and spring, although
additional rounds may also be offered. To learn more, check out
the
FAQ page for our most recent round of the program.
EWA Reporting Fellowships: Up to $10,000 for Ambitious News Projects on Education
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its next class of EWA Reporting Fellows, in support of enterprising news coverage of education. The fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. This will be the 13th class of EWA Reporting Fellows.
To date, EWA has supported more than 100 projects, resulting in a rich array of high-quality education stories in various media in communities across the country.
Application for Fall 2021 EWA Reporting Fellowship
Application Materials:
Please review the requirements below and submit your application online.
You must submit all materials at the same time. The link to the application is at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions, please see our FAQ page.
Applications are due by Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.
FAQs About the Fall 2021 EWA Reporting Fellowships
What is an EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowships program provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately eight fellowships in this round.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $10,000 apiece to winning proposals.
The Pandemic Knocked Many Native Students Off The College Track
When Marcus Jake, 18, first approached his teacher Guila Curley about taking her “college success” class last fall, she was hesitant. “Are you sure you want to do that?” she recalled thinking.
Jake, then a junior at Newcomb High School in Newcomb, New Mexico, was a good student, but Curley worried because the college-level class was online. Jake, who, like Curley, is Navajo, lived up a remote mountain road with no cell phone service.
What You Need to Know About HBCUs
Historically Black Colleges and Universities getting fresh attention amid big-dollar donations, but more than money is needed to help them thrive, experts say (EWA Radio Episode 274)
While only 3 percent of the nation’s undergraduates attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), they produce almost 20 percent of the nation’s Black college graduates.
Education Writers Association Announces Summer 2021 Class of Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its 12th class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s drive to support enterprising journalism that informs the public about consequential issues in education.
Out of School, Out of Work
In 2017, as many as 4.5 million young people—or 11.5 percent of young adults ages 16 to 24—were neither in school nor working, according to the nonprofit Measure of America. By the summer of 2020, the organization estimated, the ranks of these “disconnected” young adults had swelled to 6 million.
Read the full story here.
EWA Seeks Proposals for Ambitious Reporting Projects
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its next class of EWA Reporting Fellows, in support of enterprising news coverage of education. The fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. This will be the 12th class of EWA Reporting Fellows.
FAQs About the Spring 2021 EWA Reporting Fellowships
What is an EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowships program provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately seven fellowships in this round.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $8,000 apiece to winning proposals.
Education Writers Association Announces Winter 2021 Class of Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its 11th class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s drive to support enterprising journalism that informs the public about consequential issues in education.
Latinos Are More Wary Of Sending Kids To School, But They May Have More to Lose If They Don’t
In theory, Boise School District students could be returning to in-person classes in September. But Elizabeth Barrios’ two sons won’t be there. Her sons, who attend Whitney Elementary and South Junior High, desperately want to go back.
But Barrios decided they’ll be enrolled online until at least January. “It’s not the same, but I’d prefer to do that rather than go back to school (in-person),” Barrios said. “They’re kids. And kids aren’t going to be careful.”
EWA Seeks Proposals for In-Depth Reporting Projects
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its next class of EWA Reporting Fellows, with opportunities to fuel enterprising news coverage of education. The fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. This will be the 11th class of EWA Reporting Fellows.
EWA Announces Fall 2020 Class of Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its 10th class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s drive to support enterprising journalism that informs the public about consequential issues in education.
EWA Seeks Reporting Proposals for Fellowship Program
Deadline to apply for the 10th round of EWA Reporting Fellows is July 13
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its next class of EWA Reporting Fellows, with opportunities to fuel enterprising news coverage of education. The fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. This will be the 10th class of EWA Reporting Fellows.
EWA Announces New Class of Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its ninth class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s drive to support enterprising journalism that informs the public about consequential issues in education.
“This is an unprecedented time for the news industry, the education sector, and our nation,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “We are proud to help our members pursue in-depth projects on critical topics, including on the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
One Journalist Crowdfunds for the Furloughed as She Covers the Coronavirus
Inspired by friends' kindness, this Seattle Times reporter set up a furlough fund
When the Seattle suburb of Kirkland became Ground Zero of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak, the Seattle Times reporter Paige Cornwell found her beat transforming from covering city council elections to reporting on the most urgently unfolding story in the country.
Five Reasons You Want to Be an EWA Reporting Fellow
The Education Writers Association expects to announce a new round of the fellowship in fall 2021. Stay tuned!
While there are a growing number of programs offering to fund journalists and journalism, EWA’s Reporting Fellowship is uniquely advantageous to journalists. Here are five reasons why:
EWA Seeks Proposals for In-Depth Reporting Projects
Deadline to apply is Friday, March 13.
The deadline to apply for the Winter 2020 round of the EWA Reporting Fellowship was March 15, 2020. Please contact fellowship@ewa.org for additional information.
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its next class of EWA Reporting Fellows. The fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects on consequential issues in education. This will be the ninth class of EWA Reporting Fellows.
Investigating a University’s Ties to China
How one reporter used her EWA Fellowship to examine a school's growing Chinese population
The number of students from mainland China attending an American university has increased by more than 50 percent in the last decade. For many campuses, that student population has become a key source of tuition revenue and talent. For those who see China as an economic, political and military threat, this rapid growth has raised alarms.
How One Reporter Took Lessons Learned From Europe Back to Cleveland
The Plain Dealer's Patrick O'Donnell used his EWA Fellowship to explore career and technical education abroad
The Plain Dealer’s Patrick O’Donnell had a feeling his story was bigger than just Cleveland. His team heard reports of people graduating from high school and struggling to find gainful employment, while employers in the area complained of a mismatched skill level when hiring for trade jobs. What was it about Cleveland’s pipeline for trade workers that wasn’t lining up? Why was it so difficult to find and pair skilled workers with stable jobs in a depressed city so desperately in need of that stability?
EWA Announces New Class of Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its eighth class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support ambitious journalism projects that inform the public on important issues in education.
“Enterprising coverage of education by independent journalists has never been more important, and EWA is proud to play a role in supporting their work,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “We are delighted to help make possible in-depth reporting by our members.”
EWA Invites Journalists to Apply for Fellowships on K-12, Postsecondary Topics
*The deadline for this round of the EWA Reporting Fellowship program was Sept. 10, 2019. The application cycle is now closed.
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for proposals for its next class of EWA Reporting Fellows. The fellowships provide financial awards to journalists to undertake ambitious reporting and writing projects. This will be the eighth class of EWA Reporting Fellows.
FAQs About the Fall 2019 EWA Reporting Fellowships
What is the EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowship provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately six to eight fellowships in this round.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $8,000 apiece to winning proposals.
Can a State Help More Residents Finish College?
With 75 percent of the state’s jobs requiring postsecondary credentials, Colorado looks to boost college and career training
(EWA Radio: Episode 213)
Like many states, Colorado has set an ambitious goal for boosting the number of citizens with advanced degrees and credentials, all with an eye toward filling high-need jobs in areas like health care and manufacturing. In a five-part series, EWA Reporting Fellow Stephanie Daniel of KUNC (Northern Colorado Community Radio) looks at how the Rocky Mountain state is trying to do that:
When Prisoners Go to College
In Illinois, education programs for the incarcerated show strong results despite being underfunded
(EWA Radio: Episode 200)
If you’re an inmate in Illinois, what educational programs are available to help you get your life back on track? That’s the question public radio reporter Lee Gaines set out to answer in an ongoing series. As part of an EWA Reporting Fellowship, Gaines looks at how severe budget cuts in Illinois, plus changes to eligibility for federal Pell Grant dollars, have reduced the number of prisoners earning postsecondary credentials and degrees.
Can Kansas Keep Its Best Students?
Sunflower State students face realities of 'College Economy'
(EWA Radio: Episode 203)
Kansas, like many states, is pouring millions of dollars into dual-credit programs, technical colleges and other initiatives aimed at preparing more students for the so-called “college economy,” where advanced training is a prerequisite for well-paying jobs. But are those investments paying off? In an eight-part series for the Kansas News Service, reporters Celia Llopis-Jepsen and Stephen Bisaha look at the state’s push to get more students into postsecondary programs, and to keep them from taking their highly desirable skill sets to employers in other states.
EWA Announces New Class of Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its seventh class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support enterprising journalism projects.
“We were thrilled to receive many strong proposals for in-depth reporting projects, including from outlets focused on local news,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “We are proud of the outstanding coverage that EWA’s fellowship program has supported to date, and we’re confident that this new round will prove equally excellent.”
Citizen Z: An Education Week Project
Teaching Civics in a Divided Nation
U.S. public education is rooted in the belief by early American leaders that the most important knowledge to impart to young people is what it means to be a citizen. If America is experiencing a civic crisis now, as many say it is, schools may well be failing at that job.
Kansas Needs Nurses. So Why Do Engineering Schools Get More Money?
Dual credit programs, technical colleges getting big boost in Sunflower State
(EWA Radio: Episode 203)
Kansas, like many states, is pouring millions of dollars into dual-credit programs, technical colleges and other initiatives aimed at preparing more students for the so-called “college economy,” where advanced training is a prerequisite for well-paying jobs. But are those investments paying off? In an eight-part series for the Kansas News Service, reporters Celia Llopis-Jepsen and Stephen Bisaha look at the state’s push to get more students into postsecondary programs, and to keep them from taking their highly desirable skill sets to employers in other states.
Behind Bars and in College
Postsecondary education in Illinois’ prison system
(EWA Radio: Episode 200)
If you’re an inmate in Illinois, what educational programs are available to help you get your life back on track? That’s the question public radio reporter Lee Gaines set out to answer in an ongoing series. As part of an EWA Reporting Fellowship, Gaines looks at how severe budget cuts in Illinois, plus changes to eligibility for federal Pell Grant dollars, have reduced the number of prisoners earning postsecondary credentials and degrees.
FAQs About the 2019 EWA Reporting Fellowships
Please note: The deadline for this round of the fellowship was Feb. 15, 2019.
What is the EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowship provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately 7 fellowships in this round.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $8,000 apiece to winning proposals.
Want an EWA Reporting Fellowship? Here’s What You Need to Know.
Fellows eligible for up to $8,000 plus other project support
EWA is looking for its next class of Reporting Fellows – education journalists who receive up to $8,000 apiece to undertake in-depth projects on a wide range of topics.
This is your opportunity to get the inside track on crafting a winning application. Questions addressed include: What are the hallmarks of successful proposals? How can the money be used? What reporting topics are priorities this time? How have past fellows used their funds to produce innovative and compelling work?
How to Fund Your Dream Reporting Project
13 organizations will provide financial and editorial support to education journalists.
Editor’s note: This story was updated August 23, 2021.
Here’s some rare good financial news for education journalists: If you have an idea for an ambitious education-related story – and a realistic plan for executing it – a growing number of organizations will provide grants or other resources to support your reporting.
Representatives from several organizations, and some fellowship winners, shared tips and strategies for getting help to make reporting dreams a reality.
EWA Announces New Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its sixth class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support enterprising journalism projects on education.
“From investigative reporting to deep data dives to long-form narratives, our new fellows reflect a diverse range of topics and approaches,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “We are delighted to be able to support such ambitious and timely education journalism.”
FAQs About the 2018 EWA Reporting Fellowships:
K-12 and Higher Ed
Applications Due August 31, 2018
What is the EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowship provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately 10 fellowships in this round of the program.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $8,000 a piece to winning proposals.
EWA Announces New Education Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its fifth class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support enterprising journalism projects on education.
“We’re delighted to support the in-depth reporting projects proposed by the newest fellows,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “Their work will help shed light on the myriad challenges and opportunities facing students as they move from classrooms to careers.”
FAQs About the 2018 EWA Reporting Fellowship: Postsecondary Pathways
Applications Due April 30, 2018
What is the EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowship provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately six to 10 fellowships in this round of the program.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $8,000 a piece to winning proposals.
EWA Announces New Education Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its fourth class of EWA Reporting Fellows as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support enterprising journalism projects on education.
“We are delighted to provide additional EWA members with this unique opportunity to dig deeper into the education beat,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “These new projects will make important contributions to the public’s understanding of education and further fortify the nation’s education journalism community.”
Reinventing High School
See how one New Hampshire school is retooling education.
Two-dozen high school students are gathered around a large work table as manufacturing teacher Dan Cassidy holds out boxes of metal bars and gears. The students choose among the parts to build model bicycles. “What else are we going to use today? Let me hear some vocab here,” he says. When a student shouts out “chains,” he nudges them until they recall another term for it: “linkage.”
‘Eddie Prize’ Winner Kelly Field: Reporting on Native American Students
EWA Radio: Episode 134
Journalist Kelly Field recently won a top honor at EWA’s National Seminar for her compelling series, “From the Reservation to College,” on the education of Native American students. Field’s coverage for The Chronicle of Higher Education — supported by an EWA Reporting Fellowship — follows several students from the Blackfeet Indian reservation in Montana. Their experiences highlight the significant educational challenges facing Native communities in the U.S.
A Houston High School’s Transformation
EWA Radio: Episode 129
Laura Isensee of Houston Public Media discusses Furr High School, which recently received a $10 million grant to help it reinvent what, when, and how students learn. The changes are already underway: a veteran principal was lured out of retirement to take the helm; students are able dig into their own areas of interest during regular periods of “Genius Time”; and even the hiring process for teachers and staff has taken some innovative turns. What’s been the response of the school community to these new developments?
Covering Segregation Through Storytelling
Nationally, politicians and others frequently tout Hartford, Connecticut, and its magnet schools as a model of school integration. But in reality, the city has a system of haves and have nots, as Vanessa de la Torre and Matthew Kauffman, reporters at The Hartford Courant, revealed in their 2017 series, “Hartford Schools: More Separate, Still Unequal.”
EWA Announces New ‘Global Lens’ Education Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its third class of EWA Reporting Fellows, under an initiative aimed at supporting enterprising journalism projects.
The latest round of the EWA Reporting Fellowship is focused on examining U.S. education through a global lens. Prior rounds include college and career readiness and success, as well as high school redesign.
FAQs About the 2017 EWA Reporting Fellowship: U.S. Education in Global Context
Applications Due March 27, 2017
What is the EWA Reporting Fellowship?
The EWA Reporting Fellowship provides financial awards to education journalists to undertake special reporting and writing projects.
How many fellowships will be awarded?
EWA expects to award approximately three fellowships in this round of the program.
How much money comes with the fellowship?
EWA will provide awards of up to $8,000 a piece to winning proposals.
EWA Supports Education Journalism With New Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its inaugural class of EWA Reporting Fellows, under a new initiative aimed at supporting enterprising journalism projects.
“We were impressed by the high caliber of the proposals, and are thrilled to help advance ambitious reporting in communities across the country, from Baltimore and Detroit to New Orleans,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “The response to this new initiative makes clear the strong appetite among media outlets — and individual journalists — for in-depth reporting on education.”
EWA Announces New Education Reporting Fellows
The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce its second class of EWA Reporting Fellows, under an initiative aimed at supporting enterprising journalism projects.
“We were heartened by the quality of the applications and the continued enthusiasm among EWA members for pursuing in-depth reporting projects,” said Caroline Hendrie, EWA’s executive director. “We expect the fellows’ work to advance important conversations about policies and practices shaping America’s schools.”
Chartering a New Course: KIPP’s Katrina Generation Goes to College
EWA Radio: Episode 93
When Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans in 2005, much of the city’s infrastructure was washed away — including its public education system. Changes imposed after the storm have produced a system primarily of charter schools which are independently operated and publicly funded — including those run by the KIPP network.
In the new series “Higher Ground” (for NOLA.com/The Times Picayune), reporter Danielle Dreilinger looks at where the city’s KIPP’s graduates wind up after graduation. She talks with EWA public editor Emily Richmond about the project (part of the EWA Reporting Fellowship program), and how the high-achieving charter network is seeking to improve New Orleans’ students chances of postsecondary success.
Broken Promises: The Education of Native Students
EWA Radio: Episode 86
What will it take for the federal government to provide American Indian and Alaskan Native students with the schooling and services they’ve long been promised?